BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 51 



crofituro to look at. In Scotland the deer are generally shot ; 

 deerstalking- being one of the most aristocratic, as it is one of the 

 most laborious of field-sports. In Devon and Somerset they are 

 huntt'd. It is an exciting scene to witness a meet of the stag- 

 hounds on one of the breezy heights of Exmoor ; the maguiticent 

 scenery, combined with the glorious air, and the throng of sports- 

 men and sportswomen, make up a picture worth going far to see. 

 The last time I went to a meet was this autumn, not far from 

 Dulverton, and we had the rare good fortune to see in the distance 

 a stag in his lair. He was lying between two bushes on the steep 

 side of a depression known as the " Devil's Punch Bowl,'' the sides 

 of which were covered with heather, bracken, and shrubs. The 

 tufters (as the dogs are termed which find the deer before the pack 

 is put on the trail), were at the bottom of the valley, and it was 

 most interesting from the heights above to watch them gradually 

 work out the scent, and make their way by slow degrees up to the 

 stag. He did not move until they were close to him. The pack 

 was then sent for and put on his trail. He eventually escaped. 

 Once I came upon a hind in a thicket bordering a river in which I 

 was fishing. She was then lying down, and rose as I and my com- 

 panion approached. We wei'e close to her, and for a few seconds 

 she gazed at us with her beautiful eyes, and then bounded away. 

 I think I never saw a more graceful or beautiful creature. A deer 

 at the end of a run generally takes to the water, and stands at bay. 

 It is then despatched by the joint aid of the dogs and the 

 huntsmen. There are those who have not much relish for the 

 concluding ceremonies. The hounds used in Devonshire are 

 exactly like the ordinary fox-hounds, only rather larger. 



The Rev. W. Bingiey, in his well-known work on ' British 

 Quadrupeds,' published about the beginning of the present century, 

 says that Fallow Deer [Cerims dama) are not found anywhere in 

 Great Britain or Ireland in a perfect state of nature, and Professor 

 Bell only alludes to them as half -domesticated inhabitants of parks, 

 chases, and preserved forests. At the beginning of the century 

 vast herds of fallow deer roamed the New Forest, and other woods 

 in Hampshire, while in Epping and Hainault Forests they were 

 extremely abundant. It is curious and interesting to know that 

 they have never absolutely died out in Epping. In 1860 but very 

 few specimens remained, but measures were taken at that time to 

 prevent their extinction, and the numbers have since considerably 

 increased. The breed there is quite different from those we see in. 

 noblemen's and gentlemen's parks. They are all of an uniform 

 dark brown, which appears to be black except when one is in very 

 close proximity. I cannot myself understand why these Epping 

 Forest deer should be looked upon as other than absolutely wild. 

 They have been there from time immemorial. The male of the 

 fallow deer is known as a buck, the female as a doe, and the young 

 as a fawn. 



The Roe Deer {Capreolus ca/prcBO), a beautiful animal, smaller 

 than the fallow deer, is found plentifully in Scotland, and in some 



